Carton



Jan. 27-, 1959 w. H. INMAN 2,870,950

' CARTON Filed April 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR,

WILLIAM H. INMAN HIS ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 27, 1959 w, H, MAN I 2,870,950

CARTON Filed April 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, WILLIAM H. INMANHIS ATTORNEYS.

CARTON William H. Inman, Newark, N. Y., assignor to Bloomer gins;Company, Newark, N. Y., a corporation of New Application April 24, 1957,Serial No. 654,803

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) detachable sealing flaps on top through which thecontents are removed by scooping or dipping.

When the contents are frozen hard, considerable difiiculty is frequentlyexperienced in removing the contents by dipping as described above.Further, in certain cases, it is desirable to remove the contents as aunit in the form of a brick which is very difficult to do through thetop of the container. For these reasons, it is desirable to produce acarton which may be conveniently unfolded to expose other surfaces ofthe contents, and the provision of such a carton is another object ofthis invention.

Unfoldable cartons have heretofore been produced which may be opened toexpose the contents for removal. However, cartons of this nature have insome cases been unsatisfactory because of leakage around the detachableparts. Since the contents are often of a liquid or semiliquid nature,leakage is particularly apt to occur, especially after the cartonshavebeen opened for partial removal thereof. For this reason, it isdesirable to produce a carton having a leak-proof bottom closure whichremains intact while the carton is opened, in order to prevent leakagewhen the carton is reclosed after partial removal of the contents, andthe provision of such a carton is a further objectof this invention.

Unfoldable cartons heretofore known in the art have in some instancescome completely apart when they are opened to expose the contents forremoval. This renders the refolding operation difiicult, and alfordsonly partial protection for the unused portion of the contents. For

Z,8?0,95ll Patented Jan. 27, 1959 In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cardboard blank used in manufacture of thecontainer embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of Fig.1 prior to the gluing of one of the side walls;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a completed carton embodying thisinvention, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a carton opened to expose the contentsfor removal as a unit.

A carton embodying this invention and herein disclosed for purposes ofillustration is preferably formed from a one-piece cardboard blankcomprising a front wall 10, bottom 12, and a rear of back Wall 14connected by score lines 16 and 18. A top closure flap 20 is foldablyconnected to back wall 14 by means of a score line 22,

and a front closure flap 24 is foldably connected to front wall by scoreline 26. Front closure flap 24 is provided with a hook-like extension28, and back closure flap is provided with an arcuate slit forcooperation therewith as hereinafter described. Front wall 10 and backwall 14 are preferably trapezoidal in shape, to impart a taper to theerected carton.

Front wall It) carries a pair of side flaps 32 and 34 foldably connectedthereto by means of score lines 36 and 38, respectively. Side flaps 32and 34 carry side closure flaps 40 and 42 connected thereto by means ofscore lines 44 and 46, respectively. Bottom wall 12 carries a pair ofside bottom flaps d3 and foldably connected thereto by means of scorelines 52 and 54, respectively. Back wall 14 carries a pair of side flaps56 and 58 foldably connected thereto by means of score lines. 60 and 62,respectively.

A line of weakening 64 extends across front side flap 34, front wallill, and side flap 32, as shown in Fig. 1. Line 64 may take any of theWell known forms of weakening such as a slit partially cutting the paperboard, a line of short slits completely through the paper board, or arow of closely spaced perforations, as well known in the art. However,it is preferable that this line of weakening be applied in a manner thatwill. not permit leakage, or contamination of, the food product in thecontainer. A pair of score lines 66 and 68 extend transversely acrossfront side flaps 32 and 34 at substantially right angles to line ofweakening 64 for preventing peeling when the adhesive connections arebroken, as hereinafter described. In addition, a pair of short scorelines 69 extend diagonally from line 64 to the outer edges of flaps 32and 34, forming a pair of triangular tabs 70.

Adhesive is applied to bottom side flaps 4-8 and 50 as indicated at 71and 72, respectively, in Fig. 1. In addition, adhesive is applied to thelower Zones of flaps 32 and l as indicated at 74 and 76, and relativelynarrow bands this purpose, it is a still further object of thisinvention to produce a carton having a basic bottom structure whichremains intact while the carton is opened, and which provides a base forthe efiective reclosing of the carton after partial removal of thecontents for more complete protection of the unused portion of thecontents.

. Another object is to provide a novel means for securely retaining thecarton walls in assembled relation, but which will allow these walls tobeeasily and quickly separated for exposing thecontents. l

Further objects include the provision of a carton as de scribed abovethat maybe manufactured fromaonepiece paper-board blank by standardmachinery mum usage of stock.

To these and other ends :the inventionresides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, thenovel features being pointed out in the claims attheendofthe specification.

with a mini r 8%, respectively.

of adhesive are applied along and spaced inwardly from the free edges ofand spaced from their score lines 666!' and 6-69, side flaps 32 and 34,as indicated at 78 and The carton is set up as follows. Front and backwalls lit and 14 are folded upwardly at substantially right angles tobottom 12 at lines 16 and 18, respectively. Back side flaps 5s and 58are then folded at substantially right angles to the front and backwalls 10 and 14, and front side flaps 32 and 34 are folded inwardly overback flaps 56 and 58. A connection is made'between the front and backside flaps by the adhesive applied at 74,76 and 78 and as. Fig. 2illustrates a carton at this stage of assembly with one side completelyassembled and the other side just prior to gluing.

Bottom side flaps 48 and 50 are then folded upwardly over the lowerportions of flaps-32 and 3.4, ar1d the ad hesive connection is madetherebetween by the adhesive I v 2,870,950 7 g at 71 and 72,respectively, forming a leak-proof bottom closure. The carton is nowcompletely assembled and is ready for filling.

After the cartons are filled, the top is closed by folding flaps 40 and42 inwardly to cover thelco'ntents. Flaps 40 and 42-are held in positionby means of flaps 2t) and 24 which are folded down over them and lockedby engaging hook 28 in slit 3%, as shown in Fig. 3. 7

When the consumer wishes to use the contents of this carton, he may openthe same by disengaging hook 25% from slit 3d and opening flaps 20 and24. Flaps and 42 then may be lifted to expose the top of the contents ofthe carton. The required amount of the contents may then be dipped outbymeans of a scoop or spoon, and the carton then may be reclosed byfolding 45*, 20 and 24 downwardly and by inserting hook 28 in slit 3.

However, in certain cases it may be desirable to re* move the contentsby slicing rather than by dipping, or it may even be desirable to removethe entire contents inthe form of a single brick. in this. case, the topof the carton is opened as described above, exposing the top surface ofthe contents. The sides are then opened by grasping tabs iii on flaps 32and 34 and pulling them outwardly. This pull will easily detach therelatively weak adhesive connection formed by the narrow bands ofadhesive 73 and 80, and at the same time side flaps 32 and 34 will ripalong line of weakening 64. However, because of the relatively greaterstrength of the adhesive bond formed by large areas 74 and 76, and thereinforcing effect of bottom flaps 43 and 5d, the lower portion of sideWalls 32 and 34 will remain in place maintaining the shape of the bottomof the carton and preventing complete unfolding of the same. As may beseen from an inspection of Fig. 4, line 64 extends upwardly andforwardly across side walls 32 and 34. This corresponds toward the frontwall to the direction of the tearing force and the line along which eachwall would normally tear when tabs 76] are pulled, and this fact assuressmooth, clear tearing along the desired line. Score lines 66 and 68serve to limit any surface peeling that may occur when the adhesivebonds are broken. Front wall 10 is then folded on itself outwardly anddownwardly about its weakened line 64 to expose the main portion of thefront surface of the contents as shown.

The carton is then in the form shown in Fig. 4, wherein the top andfront surface and substantial portions of the side surfaces of thecontents are exposed. The contents may then be easily removed as asingle unit, if desired, or one or more portions may be removedtherefrom by slicing or cutting. In the latter case, the carton may bereclosed for protection of the remaining contents by folding front wall10 upwardly over the contents, folding side walls 32 and 34 inwardly totheir original position, and folding flaps 40 and 42 downwardly. Flaps40 and 42 are then frictionally retained in position by means of flaps20 and 24 which are fastened by hook 28 and slit 30. The carton is thenheld in substantially its original condition as shown in Fig. 3, andserves to protect the remainder of the contents.

The carton herein described may be manufactured by existing machinery atrelatively low cost. In use, the carton serves to protect the contentsduring storage and shipment, and yet may be easily opened by theconsumer for access thereto. The top may be easily opened in the normalfashion for access to the top of the contents for scooping or dipping,or the sides may be rapidly and easily torn to allow a substantialportion of the carton to be folded away from the contents for accessthereto.

The reinforcement of the bottom portion of the sides .of the carton bymeans of the bottom flaps preserves the integrity of the bottomstructure of the carton, including the lower portions of the front andback walls and of their side flaps relative to the carton bottom therebymaintaining its shape and allowing the carton to be refolded about theunused contents for protection of the same.

The triple thickness at the sides of the bottom provides a tight,leak-proof closure that prevents leakage of the contents during fillingand storage. Further, since the bottom is not disturbed during theunfolding of the carton, the carton remains leak-proof throughout itsuse, preventing loss or contamination of the contents even afterrepeated opening and refolding.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its obiects andwhile it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure isintended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it iscontemplated that various modifications in the construction andarrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A carton having a bottom, and front, rear and side walls extendingupwardly from said bottom, said side walls comprising overlapping innerand outer flaps, a line of weakening extending across said front walland said outer flaps and dividing the same into upper and lower zones,adhesive connections between the lower zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps, and detachable adhesiveconnections between the upper zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps, said upper zones beingdetachable from said inner flaps and concomitantly separable from saidlower zones along said lines of weakening to allow said upper zones andthe upper portion of said front wall to be swung forwardly for exposingthe contents of said carton.

2. A carton having a bottom, and front, rear and side walls extendingupwardly from said bottom, said side walls comprising overlapping innerand outer flaps, a line of weakening extending across said front walland diagonally across each of said outer flaps upwardly from said rearwall to said front wall in spaced relation with the top and bottom ofthe carton and dividing said outer flaps into upper and lower zones,adhesive connectionsbe tween the lower zones of said outer flaps andthe. corresponding portions of said inner flaps, and detachable adhesiveconnections between the upper zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps, said upper zones beingdetachable from said inner flaps and concomitantly separable from saidlower zones along said lines of weakening to allow said upper zones andthe upper portion of said front wall to be swung forwardly for exposingthe contents of said carton.

, 3. A carton having a bottom, and front, rear and, side walls extendingupwardly from said bottom, said side walls comprising overlapping innerand outer flaps, a line of weakening extending transversely across saidfront wall and said outer flaps and dividingthe same into upper andlower zones, adhesive connections between the lower zones of said outerflaps and the corresponding portions of said inner flaps, and detachableadhesive connections disposed between the upper zones of said outerflaps and the corresponding portions of said inner flaps and spaced fromthe free edges of said outer flaps said edges being adapted to begrasped and pulled for separating the upper zones of said outer flapsfrom said inner flaps and for separating said upper zones from saidlower zones along said lines of weakening for swinging said upper zonesand the upper portion of said front wall outwardly for exposing thecontents of said carton.

4. A carton having a bottom, and front, rear and side walls extendingupwardly from said'bottom, said side v walls comprising overlappinginner and outer flaps, a line of weakening extending transversely acrosssaid outer flaps from said back wall to said front wall dividing thesame into upper and lower zones, a score line extending across saidfront wall and meeting said lines of weakening in said outer flaps,adhesive connections between the lower zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps, and detachable adhesiveconnections between the upper zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps, whereby said upper zones maybe detached from said inner flaps and separated from said lower zonesalong said lines of weakening for swinging said upper zones and theupper portion of said front wall outwardly about said score lineforexposing the contents of said carton.

5. A carton having a bottom, and front, rear and side walls extendingupwardly from said bottom, said side walls comprising overlapping innerand outer flaps, a line of weakening extending transversely across saidouter flaps dividing the same into upper and lower zones, adhesiveconnections between the lower zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps, detachable adhesiveconnections between the upper zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps, and a line of surfaceweakening in the upper portion of said outer flaps between saiddetachable ad-' hesive connections and the fold lines connecting saidouter flaps to said front wall forpreventing surface peeling of saidouter flaps, whereby said upper zones may be detached from said innerflaps and separated from said lower zones along said lines of weakeningfor swinging said upper zones and the upper portion of said front walloutwardly for exposing the contents of said carton.

6. A tapered carton having a bottom, and front, rear and side wallsextending upwardly and outwardly from said bottom, said side wallscomprising overlapping inner and outer flaps, a line of weakeningextending transversely across said front wall and said outer flaps anddividing thesame into upper and lower zones, adhesive connectionsbetween the lower zones of said outer flaps and the correspondingportions of said inner flaps, and detachable adhesive connectionsdisposed between the upper zones of said outer flaps and thecorresponding portions of said inner flaps and spaced from the freeedges of said outer flaps said edges being adapted to be grasped andpulled to separate said upper zones from said inner flaps and toseparate said upper zones from said lower zones along said line ofweakening for swinging said upper zones and the upper portion of saidfront wall outwardly for exposing the contents of said carton.

7 A carton having a bottom, and front, rear and side walls extendingupwardly from said bottom, said side walls comprising overlapping innerand outer flaps, a pair of bottom flaps foldably connected to saidbottom and overlapping the lower portions of said outer flaps, a line ofweakening extending transversely across said outer flaps above the upperedge of said bottom flaps for dividing said outer flaps into upper andlower zones, adhesive connections between said bottom flaps and thelower zones of said outer flaps, adhesive connections between the lowerzones of said outer flaps and the corresponding portions of inner flaps,and detachable adhesive connections between the upper zones of saidouter flaps and the corresponding portions of said inner flaps wherebysaid upper zones may be detached from said inner flaps and separatedfrom said lower zones along said lines of weakening for swinging theupper zones and the upper portion of said front wall outwardly forexposing the contents of said carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,353,629 Cibulka Sept. 21, 1920 1,908,251 Inman et a1 May 9, 19332,155,791 Holmes Apr. 25, 1939 2,342,543 Inman Feb. 22, 1944 2,347,161Watts et al. Apr. 18, 1944

